Joseph tilts his glass to his lips, piercing his gaze over Danielle, who — to his reluctance — is consuming alcohol with them. The presence of this girl stimulates feelings of anger in him.
— Get lost, short-legged hag — he turns to her in a husky tone as she settles more comfortably into a chair and pours herself another shot of whiskey.
The redhead snorts under her breath, disregarding his words.
— If you were paying such compliments to Hannah, I'm not at all surprised that she lost her head for you, black knight.
— Be careful that I don't deprive you of that orange head shortly.
The girl pours another portion of alcohol into herself, contemplating how to completely throw him unbalanced. She sees that playing with him is a fascinating game, especially since he is irritable.
— I keep wondering how you can be Hannah's twin.... It seems to me that one of you is the fruit of God and the other of the devil. — The sentence uttered by Tom amuses his friends.
Only one person sits at the table with a grim face, showing resentment toward Danielle.
— Don't connect me by blood ties with this insane woman.
His statements do not sound blatant to her in any way. It seems to her that alcohol is to blame, as she begins to laugh at it in time.
— Danielle, don't drink anymore. — Jin draws her attention, anticipating what consequences his ex-girlfriend's drunkenness will bring. He has had many occasions in the past to take care of her. He had to put in significant effort because it was difficult to control her.
— I have confidence that you will take good care of me. — She wants to touch his cheek, but the boy pushes her face away.
— I have no intention of going through this again. When drunk, you act like a thug.
— She acts like a thug when sober, so I prefer not to know what she puts away after alcohol. — Tom looks horrified at this thought.
The redhead chastises him with her eyes.
— Don't worry, you'll be the first to find out.
The boy pretends not to have heard her answer, changing the subject.
— I wonder how Hannah is feeling. Someone should stay with her.
— It seems to me that the company of either of us would be overwhelming for her. It's best if she spends some time alone now. — Jimmy glances fleetingly at Joseph, noticing that his friend is starting to overdo it with alcohol.
— Earlier, I wrote to Bella. He will be at her place any moment — Jin interjects.
— Why are you writing to my girlfriend! — In Tom's voice, you can clearly hear indignation. — Delete her number, right now!
Joseph watches them with tired eyes, fed up with their constant winding up.
— Stop talking about Hannah. It's annoying enough for me to look at her face. — He points to Danielle with his hand, unwillingly.
He shifts his gaze to the side, focusing his attention on an elderly man who sits at the bar, having been watching their table for a long time. It seems to him that his eyes are particularly focused on Danielle. He even gets the impression that the man knows her.
— The redhead, an admirer on the left.
The girl pops her gum in her mouth and follows his gaze in that direction. Her eyes get big bigger when she recognizes the man.
— What is this prick doing here? — she mutters under her breath, recalling their last encounter, when she left him in the trunk of the car, making it clear to him that he should forget about her.
— What did you do to him, Danielle?
The redhead is offended by Jin's words.
— Why do you assume in advance that I have a beef with him?
— Because you are the type of person who does not win friends but attracts enemies.
Joseph smiles fleetingly.
— The man breathes fire at the sight of you....
— And it's definitely not from excitement — Tom adds.
Danielle gets up from the table and boldly makes her way to the man, unafraid to face him, despite what she has done to him.
When she is in front of him, she assumes a fighting stance, crossing her arms over her chest.
— It seems to me that our acquaintance ended a long time ago. Does your wife know where you are? — Her arrogant smile drives him crazy, he grabs her hand and jerks it hard, not caring that he is causing her pain. — Ah... He'll find out when you end up at the police station.
Jin pulls Danielle's hand out of the older man's grasp.
— Stop getting into trouble, girl — he says to her in a sharp voice, then leads her out of the bar.
Joseph, who is already starting to stagger, walks up to the stranger and pats him on the shoulder.
— Get her one day and finish her off if you feel like it. You'll save the world. — Despite his sober mind, he suddenly realizes something. — Just don't confuse her with her twin because then I'll be the one to kill you.
Jimmy grabs his friend by the shoulders and with Tom's help, they lead him out of the bar.
This is still missing that he will make some problems.
— Tonight, you are staying at my place. I prefer to keep an eye on you.
— Just be careful that he doesn't mistake you for Hannah. — Tom is a master at telling silly things. Everyone has gotten used to it by now. — In height, you do not differ much.
*
Jin lets go of Danielle's hand when they are in front of the bar. He pierces her with his eyes as he realizes that she is having a great time. She makes bubble gum balloons, not caring that she is in danger. All around her, she is surrounded by enemies she has created herself, provoking them with her immature behavior, but she believes that nothing bad is happening and that she can handle people who hate her.
She thinks she is indestructible, thinks that with her strong character she can defeat anyone but doesn't realize that eventually there will be someone who will defeat her. Someone who has more power and is definitely stronger than her.
— Start behaving maturely, as befits your age! You are no longer a rebellious brat!
The redhead wrinkles her eyebrows.
— I think you mean your friend.
— Joseph is going through a tough time right now. He'll get over it soon, but you've been putting on a circus for nine years. It's starting to get dangerous. You are playing with people who are stronger than you. Eventually, you'll get to a situation where you can't fall on your feet. Are you really going to die? Don't you want to finally change your life? Start making friends, strengthen your relationship with your sister, be happy!
He seems to see tears in her eyes. After all, he is the only person Danielle can open up to.
— What if I can't! — she jumps on him. — What if I have thought about it many times, but nothing has come of it because I am not fit for such a life? What if my existence from birth is written under a dark star, and I will never be happy again? I am a string of misfortunes, so instead of friends, I gain new enemies. The only guy I love and care a damn about hates me! I am a curse!
Tears run down her cheeks, which she immediately wipes with the sleeve of her jacket. Danielle constantly tries to be strong, but there are days when she just cracks. And today, at this very moment, that's what's coming, as alcohol plays a big role in it.
Jin tightens his lips as he notices the pain written on her face. He feels sorry for her and even feels like hugging her, but strenuously refrains from doing so.
He can't let himself be fooled by her once again. He has already suffered enough in his life because of her.
— If you keep telling yourself that you can't do something, you actually will. Start being more optimistic.
The girl forces a weak smile.
— And you would be optimistic if in the past you had made enemies in every corner of the world? Even if I tried to change it now, I would rather kill myself than beg on my knees for forgiveness. That is why I will never be happy. I won't be because pride won't let me.
— So you want to die! — he yells at her, drawing the attention of passersby. — You still have a chance to change your life before it's too late. Just say you want it, and I'll help you get out of this mess, Danielle.
The girl lifts her face and looks at him with confused eyes. Jin hopes that she will eventually come to her senses.
He turns his back on her and walks closer to the curb to stop an oncoming cab. Danielle runs up to him and embraces him around the waist from behind, snuggling her face into his jacket.
— Do you really believe that there is a chance for me? That I can still change my life? If so, I want you to help me. I want to have you close to me.
The man, who is standing in front of the bar, leans his shoulder against the wall. He puts a cigarette in his mouth and takes a drag on the nicotine without taking his eyes off them.
In his head he devises a cruel plan by which he will properly take revenge on this girl; let her have a lesson for having mocked him in the past.
*
Hannah sits on the couch, draws her knees and embraces them with her hands, laying her cheek on them. With sad eyes, she watches Bella, who is scrambling around the kitchenette. She pours water into a glass for her, incessantly muttering something under her breath, but Hannah ignores it because she has grown accustomed to her friend talking to herself. At first, it seemed strange to her, and she even considered whether Bella was insane, but now she might as well say that about herself. She is the one who sees the ghost, the dead girl who hanged herself at Horace Mann eight years ago.
Until now, she thought suicide was the cause of her death, but the truth turns out to be quite different.
Who is Solar's murderer? Is it possible that Joseph had his fingers in it?
Her heart hurts at the thought of this, but she can't get the notion out of her head in any way.
— Is he abnormal! It's not enough that you first went through hell because of his father, but then he also hit you?
Bella sits down next to her and hands her a glass. Ever since she came she has been furious and feels like tearing Joseph apart with her bare hands. She can't understand how he could behave so horribly towards a girl who needs his support at this moment.
— He himself is lost, Bella.... Father is destroying him. Joseph has a complicated character, as it was largely the tragedy in his home that contributed to his ability to be nasty toward other people. This is how he defends himself, and the worst part is that for him, it could be a repeat of the past.
— Don't defend him, please, Hannah.
— He is acting like a rebel, trying to prove to his father that he will again show his horns as befits a native devil. All I had to do was look at him and I could see that something bad was happening to him. He can't fight the mental pain because it's all connected to the past. He thinks that unloading on someone else will help him get rid of the burden. He is at war with himself.
— I understand that you love him and thus fiercely defend him, but you are suffering because of him, Hannah. For once, think of yourself.
— What if I can't see the world outside of him? At this point, all I'm worried about is that he doesn't commit any foolishness.
The friend feels like giving her a further lecture on Joseph's behavior, but they are interrupted by a banging on the door. Puzzled, she looks at Hannah, but the latter merely shrugs her shoulders.
Bella tightens her lips in anger as her boyfriend and Jimmy bring the drunken devil inside.
— Sorry, Hannah, but we had no choice. Jimmy wanted to take him to his place, but Joseph started threatening the cab driver. You know well how persuasive he can be, then.... — Tom's eyes have the look of a beaten puppy. — Bella, baby...
The girl walks up to him and grabs his ear.
— He's drenched in dead weight, and you're afraid of him!!!? He does not have the strength to stand on his own, and tomorrow he will not remember anything!
— I will take care of him. At least I'll be calmer — Hannah says, looking at the brunet with concern in her eyes. — Jimmy, lead him to the bedroom.
The blond nods and follows her words.
— She finds herself Mother Teresa... — Bella is unhappy with the decision her friend has made. — And what are you going to take care of this selfish drunkard now?
— I know you want the best for me, and I thank you for that, but I still have to deal with this problem myself. Sorry.
— If I were you, I'd give him a beating and not think about caring! Just try to give him something for a hangover tomorrow.... Let him breathe in agony!
Tom forcefully leads his girlfriend out of the apartment, fearing that in a moment he will wake up half the neighborhood.
— Give him a slap in the mouth, maybe he'll sober up faster — Jimmy speaks up as he leaves the bedroom and faces Hannah. — Can you handle it, or should I stay with you?
— I'll take care of him, thanks. — The boy nods and walks to the door. He is about to leave, but stops in mid-step when the girl speaks again. — Do you think his father will become even more ruthless when I don't give up on his son despite my threats?
— You must prepare for war, Hannah, but remember that you have us. We will always stand by your side. And that drunken idiot, too, even though it has fallen on his head lately.
Hannah is relieved. She finally has friends who will stand behind her.